China’s Military Leadership Younger, But...

However, it is impossible to call the newly elected leaders youngThe Chinese military has undergone a sweeping leadership change in the wake of the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which is bring younger faces into the picture.

Four newly elected members of the Military Commission of the CPC became heads of the PLA's four departments, the Liberation Army Daily reports. They are the following:

General Liang Guanglie, 61, former commander of the Nanjing Military Area Command, replaced Fu Quanyou, 72, as chief of the military's general staff.

General Xu Caihou, 59, former deputy director of the PLA's political department was promoted to head the department, taking the place of Yu Yongbo, 71.

General Liao Xilong, 62, was appointed head of the logistics department from his position of chief of the Chengdu Military Area Command, replacing 71-year-old Wang Ke.

General Li Jinai, 59, former commissar of the armaments department, took over the department from Cao Gangchuan, 66. General Cao Gangchuan and General Guo Boxiong, 59, a former executive deputy chief of the general staff, were both elected vice-chairmen of the Central Military Commission at the Party Congress, replacing Zhang Wannian, 74, and Chi Haotian, 73 (who is currently the China’s Defense Minister). Cao and Guo are also elected to the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party's Central Committee. Newly elected Secretary General Hu Jintao is also a vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the party congress; the Central Military Commission is still headed by Former Secretary General Jiang Zemin.

The Chinese military command has become much younger; however, it is impossible to call the newly elected leaders young. Just to compare, Soviet Marshal Georgy Zhukov was appointed commander of the Red Army when he was just 44 years. He signed the document on Germany’s surrender at the age of 48.